Quillion Bowie with Curly Koa

Product Description for Quillion Bowie with Curly Koa

Maker: Stuart Smith, J.S. (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 100756
Blade length: 12.50 in.
Cutting edge length: 11.50 in.
Total length: 17.75 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.50 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.28 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.24 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.03 in.
Item weight: 18.40 oz.
Shipment weight: 25 oz.
Blade: Hand forged W2 carbon steel with a clay zone heat treatment
Bolster: Damascus quillion guard and ferrule
Handle: Stabilized curly koa
Sheath: Hand stitched, hand tooled leather sheath
Description: Getting to meet with Journeyman Stuart Smith is a real highlight of my trips to South Africa. Smith began making knives in 2000 after he took a class with Mastersmith Kevin Harvey. Stuart was immediately hooked and quite his job working as a salesman by 2004. Only a few years after that, in 2009, Stuart began teaching classes of his own. Among his many students is Neels van den Berg. Stuart has been very active over the years in the Southern African Bladesmiths Association (SABA) and the Knifemakers Guild of Southern Africa (KGSA). Stuart became an ABS journeyman smith in June of 2019.
Stuart forged this massive 12-1/2 inch bowie blade from W2 carbon steel. For his heat treatment, Stuart borrowed a technique from Japanese swordsmiths. This time tested technique involves coating the spine with clay. The clay acts as a heat sink, ensuring a keen, long lasting edge with a supportive spine. The undulating transition line is called a gunome hamon.
The handle is formed from a beautiful section of presentation grade curly koa. It is set with a hand domed bronze pin. Both the S-guard and ferrule were forged from Smith's damascus.
This knife is accompanied by a custom hand stitched and hand tooled leather sheath.
Exceptional work throughout!


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